Dubai, 30 August (Sports Desk)
Sri Lanka Women Beat UAE by 9 Wickets in Asia Cup 2026 Opener
Asia Cup Women’s T20 2026 – Match 2
Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai
Date: August 29, 2026
Result: Sri Lanka Women won by 9 wickets
Player of the Match: Chethana Vimukthi
United Arab Emirates Women – 79 All Out
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field. UAE struggled to build momentum and were bowled out for 79 in 19.5 overs.
- Esha Oza: 18 (24)
- Samaira Dharnidharka: 17 (25)
- Rinitha Rajith: 15 (16)
- Heena Hotchandani: 10 (18)
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Sri Lanka’s bowling attack kept UAE under constant pressure. Chethana Vimukthi was outstanding on her T20I debut, taking 3/16, while Mithali Ayodhya also claimed 3/14. Sugandika Kumari took two wickets, with Chamari Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari taking one each.
Sri Lanka Women – 80/1 in 7.5 Overs
Sri Lanka made the chase look effortless, reaching 80/1 in just 7.5 overs.
- Chamari Athapaththu: 48* off 25 balls — 7 fours, 2 sixes
- Imesha Dulani: 25 off 18 balls
- Sanjana Kavindi: 5* off 4 balls
Dulani and Athapaththu gave Sri Lanka a flying start, putting on 53 runs from 33 balls before Dulani was run out. Athapaththu then finished the job in style, remaining unbeaten on 48.
Player of the Match – Chethana Vimukthi
The 24-year-old fast bowler Chethana Vimukthi made an immediate impact on her T20I debut, returning figures of 3 wickets for 16 runs. She was instrumental in restricting UAE to a modest total.
Vimukthi said she was delighted to make her T20I debut and contribute immediately for Sri Lanka. She also explained that she used cross-seam bowling because of the conditions and dew, aiming to keep the ball moving less while bowling wicket-to-wicket.
Match Summary
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇪 UAE Women | 79 all out | 19.5 |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka Women | 80/1 | 7.5 |
Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets, completing the chase with 73 balls remaining—their biggest T20I victory in terms of balls remaining, according to the match commentary.
The victory gives defending champions Sri Lanka a strong start to their Asia Cup campaign. Sri Lanka are in Group B alongside Bangladesh, Indonesia and hosts UAE.
Next match: Sri Lanka are scheduled to face Indonesia on September 2, 2026.
